Groninger Museum

As you pass the Groninger Museum by boat, you’re immediately struck by its bold, colorful architecture rising from the water like a modern art sculpture. The golden tower gleams in the sunlight, flanked by futuristic pavilions—one sleek and cylindrical in grey tones, the other angular and industrial in red and black. Designed by renowned architects like Alessandro Mendini, Philippe Starck, and Coop Himmelb(l)au, the museum’s striking forms and vivid colors reflect its vibrant commitment to contemporary art, offering a captivating visual experience from the canal.

As you approach Groningen's main railway station—known locally as the Hoofdstation—you're greeted by a richly ornamented façade that blends neo-Renaissance and neo-Gothic styles. Designed by architect Isaac Gosschalk and completed in 1896, the building features decorative arches, pillars, and pointed windows. Inside, the grand waiting hall is adorned with a coffered papier-mâché ceiling, colorful stencil work, stained glass windows, and large tile tableaus by Groningen artist F.H. Bach, depicting symbolic figures representing telegraphy, postal services, steam, labor, and time. This architectural gem, restored to its original splendor in 2000, was voted the most beautiful station in the Netherlands in a 2019 national poll.